Sunday, March 13, 2022

The Ukraine war through the eyes of Arabs

 

https://youtu.be/luuXoqtSPuk

Clare Daly is an Irish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament from Ireland for the Dublin constituency since July 2019 voted against a resolution condemning the war in Ukraine as "illegal, unprovoked and unjustified military aggression" by Russia. Though I do not approve her decision, I found that the reasons she gave are valid in themselves.

I wholeheartedly welcome the EU's  unprecedented provision of protection for Ukrainian refugees.
But how can this tremendous solidarity be reconciled with the indifference and unspeakable brutality shown by Europe to refugees from other countries?

Hearing her talk made me understand better why I see a reluctance on Arab mainstream media as well as social media to support Western actions as to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

There is empathy with Ukrainians, no dissent as to the unfairness of what they are subjected to, but there is suspicion about the motivations of the US, mainly. 

Conspiracy theories have been justified in the hectic and self serving actions of American  foreign policy in the region. From supporting dictatorships in oil countries since the 1970s, helping the spread of radical Islam during the cold war era, making deals with military regimes such as Assad in Syria and Saddam in Iraq, and never supporting democratic movements in the region in general. And more recently making deals with Iran, disregarding it's support of religious fanatic militias in Lebanon and Iraq. Not to mention the total support of any action Israel undertakes with no regards to human rights or the right to self determination of the Palestinian people from settlement to the 'apartheid' policy in the West Bank.  

There is an understanding of the European fear from Putin's Russia, yet a deep hurt about how Syrian refugees were treated in Hungary and Poland in comparison with Ukrainians.

The last straw was when Assad was allowed to murder his own people and gaz them with impunity. The West lost credibility and the ideals of human rights became irrelevant when applied only when it serves the interests of the West in the game of nations. 

Putin is acknowledged as a dictator and his actions in Ukraine are overwhelmingly condemned. Yet, between the lines, one can read that they do not trust the US to be different.

In short, there is empathy for Ukrainians, there is a deep belief that they are pions in a game of nation where they are paying the price for a war they are waging as victims on all sides. They are being used by the super powers. 

It is difficult to convince people to adhere the principles when they have been subjected to discrimination and neglect. It is important to relay the message that upholding the principles of democracy and freedom  is also in their own interest. 

Justice cannot be relative. We cannot pick and chose. The 'West' needs to understand it too.





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